In the news today, March 22

The Canadian Press

Published: Mar 22 at 4:15 a.m.

Updated: Oct 24 at 3:35 p.m.

Five stories in the news for Thursday, March 22

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SON OF IRANIAN-CANADIAN WHO DIED IN JAIL SPEAKS OUT

The son of an Iranian-Canadian professor who died in a Tehran prison says he can't grieve his father until his mother is released to Canada. Mehran Seyed-Emami says he and his brother Ramin are in regular contact with their mother, Maryam Mombeini, and she is doing well considering the circumstances. Two weeks ago, Mombeini was blocked from boarding a flight bound for Vancouver, where she planned to start a new life with her sons. The family has disputed a claim by Iranian officials that Mombeini's husband, Kavous Seyed-Emami, died by suicide.

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CHARGE UPGRADED AGAINST ACCUSED KILLER

A man accused of killing a young woman in Toronto's gay village last year has seen his charge upgraded to first-degree murder. Police initially charged Kalen Schlatter, 21, with second-degree murder last month in the death of Tess Richey, who investigators say died of "neck compression." Richey, 22, was reported missing in November after a night out with a friend. Her mother, who travelled from her home in North Bay to search for her, found Richey's body four days later in a stairwell at the back of an alley. Toronto police declined to comment Wednesday on the upgraded charge.

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ALBERTA SET TO UNVEIL FISCAL 2018 BUDGET

Alberta is to table its 2018 budget today, and Premier Rachel Notley's government says it will reflect a commitment to continued spending and getting the books balanced. The province has been running multibillion-dollar budget shortfalls in recent years as it grapples with reduced oil prices. Finance Minister Joe Ceci says his budget will include a step-by-step plan to get back to balance by 2023.

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PRIME MINISTER TO VISIT NEW BRUNSWICK

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is expected to visit New Brunswick today. Trudeau will conduct some early morning press interviews before stopping in Sussex, where he is to meet with Premier Brian Gallant. The prime minister is then scheduled to take part in a roundtable discussion on rural economic growth, followed by a visit to Sussex Regional High School.

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FILM BOARD LAUNCHES INDIGENOUS STREAMING SITE

The National Film Board of Canada has launched a website that offers free streaming of more than 200 titles by Indigenous directors. Indigenous Cinema is part of the NFB's three-year Indigenous Action Plan. It will also feature playlists and filmmaker biographies. Films available to stream include Mike Kanentakeron Mitchell's "You Are on Indian Land," Alanis Obomsawin's "Kanehsatake: 270 Years of Resistance" and Gil Cardinal's autobiographical "Foster Child."

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ALSO IN THE NEWS TODAY:

— Statistics Canada releases employment insurance figures for January, Canada's population estimates for the fourth quarter and the travel between Canada and other countries for January.

— The Parliamentary Budget Officer posts a new report entitled "Update on Costs of Incarceration."